Western History 86: How did Spain rise as a Power?

The Arabs had dominated Spain from the 8^th century when they were invited to intervene in a Visigothic Civil war. An Arab victory in 711 at the Battle of Guadalete swung the balance of power in their favour and by 718 much of the Iberian Peninsula was under their control. Nevertheless despite the defeat of the Umayyad Caliphate by the Abbasids in the Levant Al-Andalus (or Muslim Spain) still remained as an Umayyad outpost with the Umayyad’s defending the peninsula against both the Magyars (a pagan people) and the Vikings.

The period of Umayyad rule was known as La Convivencia and was often characterized by coexistence between the Muslim Christian and Jewish populations. A famous ruler during this time period was Abd-ar-Rahman III. However the region fill into disarray with the warring of the Taifa Kingdoms. The Medieval Period saw conflict between Muslims and Christians. The Berber Almoravids dominated Al-Andulus but were themselves pushed back by the Fundamentalist  Almohads. The period of toleration had come to an end.

The Christian kingdom pushed back securing a major victory at the Battle of Las Navas de Toloso (1212) so that by the mid thirteenth century only the region of Granada lay was still under Muslim Control.Spanish identity was forged during this period with the formalization of language and university education. Christian power was centered in the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon.

The marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon (1469) would unite these two powers with the former serving as the senior partner. By 1492 the Reconquista of Spain (Christian Reconquest) was complete with Granada finally falling into Christian hands. The joint monarchy would represent the essence of Catholic Power.

It was Isabella and Ferdinand who bankrolled the exhibitions of Christopher Columbus, expelled the Jews, solidified the alliance of Portugal through marriage (their first daughter Isabella was betrothed to Alfonso of Portugal) and more importantly married their second daughter Juana, into the Hapsburg Dynasty. Another daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, Catherine, married Henry VIII of England.

Spain would emerge as a pre-eminent maritime power from the late fifteenth to early seventeenth century. They first conquered the Canary Islands and then spread Westwards into the New World winning dominion ship over most of Modern day Central America, the interior of South America, Western South America, portions of the Eastern South American coast, the Caribbean, the Philippines as well as select African enclaves. The Treaty of  Tordesillas (1494) divided South and Central America into regions of Spanish and Portuguese influence.

Although this period of Imperialism is viewed as a Spanish Golden Age, the impact on the conquered local people was devastating, what with the ill treatment and mass destruction of the culture of the indigenous population as well as the spread of diseases such a Measles and Smallpox.

From an economic standpoint though the Spanish Empire would serve to spread the Catholic influence and supply the mother country with mineral wealth (gold, silver and tin) and crops. It would however spur a harsh slave trade, material greed and very costly warfare with the rival powers of England, France and the Netherlands.